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Divestment: CSOs Want FG To Prohibit Oil Companies Sales Of Assets In Niger Delta Until…

Published

2 years ago

October 11, 2023

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Benin

Following the announcement of acquisition of 100% of Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC Ltd) by Oando Plc, Civil Society Organizations have urged the Federal Government to immediately place a moratorium on
oil company divestment (or sale of assets) in the Niger Delta region, pending the ascertaining of issues of community concern.

They argued that the call became necessary becaus host communities in which Agip has operated for up to six decades are unaware of the
impending sale and have not been informed by the firm.

Oando Plc had on October 4, 2023 announced that it reached an agreement with Eni for the acquisition of a 100 percent stake in its subsidiary, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC Ltd).

But a statement signed by Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director, Health of Mother Earth Foundation; China Williams, Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria; Henry Eferegbo, Executive Director, Niger Delta Network for Environmental Justice; Ken Henshaw, Executive Director, We The People and six other organisations, and made available to INFO DAILY by Kome Odhomor, Media/Communication Lead, said “Agip has been operating recklessly for decades, leaving terrible ecological and socioeconomic legacies,” hence it cannot vacate the region without “addressing several cases and concerns bordering on the ecological, health, economic, and social impacts of its operations in the Niger Delta.”

They argued that “throughout its operations, Agip consistently flared gas, wreaking havoc on the health, livelihoods, and environment of Niger Delta oil-producing communities.”

“Several investigations have found
the corporation and its collaborators responsible for environmental
degradation that has destroyed livelihoods, poisoned communities, and created circumstances for human rights violations,” they added in the statement.

They, therefore, urged the “Federal Government to immediately produce a framework and
guide for how oil companies disengage from areas where they have operated.”

This guide, according to the environmental activists, “should be developed by a multi-stakeholder group including communities and civil society organizations. The divestment (or sale) framework must contain the following requirements for oil
companies and the Nigeria authorities;

“A scientifically developed post hydrocarbon impact assessment report that establishes the exact ecological and livelihoods impacts of oil extraction.

“A health audit of people located in close proximity to extraction
sites, and others exposed to oil contamination and gas flaring. This
audit will aim at unravelling the negative health impacts of exposure to hydrocarbons.

“A detailed plan and costing for remediating the ecological,
livelihood and health impacts of extraction.

“The establishment of independent frameworks for remediating all
identified impacts and compensation to the impacted individuals and
communities.”

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Kwara Church Attack: ‘Resign Now’, Falz Tells Tinubu

Published

24 minutes ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

Folarin Falana (FALZ) and President Tinubu
Nigerian rapper and activist, Folarin Falana popularly known as Falz, has taken a swipe at President Bola Tinubu, demanding his resignation following the bandits’ attack of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Oke Isegun, Eruku, in the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Falz, in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, accused the President of failing in his primary duty of securing the lives and property of Nigerians, describing the alleged government inaction as unacceptable.

Tribune Online reports that the Kwara State Police Command confirmed that the attack occurred around 6 p.m. on November 18. Security operatives and local vigilantes were said to have engaged the attackers and eventually repelled them.

During the assault, the armed gang reportedly invaded the church during a service, killed at least one person, and abducted several worshippers.

Reacting to the incident, Falz expressed frustration, questioning the president on the state of insecurity in the country and asking how many more people must die before meaningful action is taken.

He wrote, “How many more people have to be kidnapped and murdered in cold blood? How many more lives do you want to waste? How many more futures do you wish to erase with your incompetence and inaction?

“You have consistently shown your unwillingness to protect the lives and property of our people despite pretending to care in the past. RESIGN NOW!”

How many more people have to be kidnapped and murdered in cold blood? How many more lives do you want to waste? How many more futures do you wish to erase with your incompetence and inaction? @officialABAT

News

Court Jails Two Men 26 Months For N8.5b Fraud

Published

32 minutes ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

LJustice Rahman Oshodi of Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced two men, Hamza Zakaria and Nurudeen Ibrahim, to 26 months’ imprisonment each for N8.56 billion fraud.

Zakaria and Ibrahim were convicted and sentenced after the court found them guilty of unauthorised access to a new generation bank’s computer systems. They were formerly arraigned on May 2, 2025, alongside other defendants, on four counts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Their offences bordered on conspiracy, stealing and unauthorised access to a computer system, contrary to Sections 409 and 331 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. They had pleaded not guilty at the time.

The defendants, however, changed their plea following the presentation of amended charges, prompting the court to convict and sentence them accordingly.

During the review of the facts, prosecution counsel, Muhammad Bashir, called a witness, Airende Monday, an operative of the EFCC, who tendered documents that were admitted as exhibits.

While delivering judgement, Justice Oshodi stated: “I find the defendants guilty in the two-count amended information, and I convict them accordingly. This is the judgement of the court.”

The court jailed them eight months on count one and one year and six months on count two. Both sentences are to run concurrently, with an option of a N50,000 fine.

The EFCC alleged that the defendants and other persons at large, sometime in January 2025 in Lagos, within the court’s jurisdiction, conspired to transfer and retain criminal proceeds from unauthorised access to Wema Bank’s computer and servers.

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JUST IN: Police Deal Off PDP National Secretariat

Published

4 hours ago

November 19, 2025

Editor

Operatives of the Nigeria Police on Wednesday sealed the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at Wadata Plaza, Abuja.

The development is linked to the face-off between two factions of the party on Tuesday.

Pandemonium broke out at the facility on Tuesday when the Saminu Turaki-led faction clashed with members loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and his Bauchi counterpart, Bala Mohammed, were teargassed during the confrontation.

DAILY POST observed on Wednesday that barbed wire was used to create a barrier to prevent anyone from gaining access to the premises.

None of the leaders of the two warring groups was sighted at the secretariat, as only a handful of policemen were on the ground.

However, supporters of the faction led by Kabiru Turaki opposed the decision of the police to barricade the premises.